Manual needle elevating device

ABSTRACT

A mechanism in a zigzag sewing machine having a basting stitch device which operates by unlatching a needle bar from an endwise reciprocatory drive means during an extreme excursion of a needle bar gate carrying the needle bar. A latch release member, positioned adjacent the needle bar gate, may be manually elevated to a position where it will strike a lever mounted on the latch mechanism which will trip the latch mechanism at any position of the needle bar gate. A presser bar lifting lever, when elevated to a position beyond normal lift position, will lift a presser bar guide block to a position where it will strike a lug extension on the latch release member, thereby causing elevation of the latch release member to disconnect the needle bar from its endwise reciprocatory driving mechanism. A tension spring will elevate the needle bar to its upper most position when the needle bar is thus disconnected from its driving mechanism.

United States Patent 1 Adams et a1.

MANUAL NEEDLE ELEVATING DEVICE r [75] Inventors: Kenneth D. Adams,Madison; John P. Brockman, Franklin Park, both of NJ. 9

[73] Assignee: The Singer Company, New York,

22 Filed: Apr. 4, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 347,983

[52] US. Cl 112/158 R, 112/221, 112/237 [51] Int. Cl. D05b 3/02, D05b55/16 a [58] Field of Search 112/78, 79, 79.5, 158 R, 112/167, 221, 237,240

[56] I V I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,318,200 5/1942Cobble et al. 112/221 X 3,147,720 9/1964 Kuhn 112/221 X 3,259,088 7/1966Rockholt..... 112/221 X 3,259,089 7/1966 Rockholt 112/79 Gaines 112/2211 June 11, 1974 Primary ExaminerWerner H. Schroeder v Attorney, Agent,or Firm-Marshall J. Breen I 57 ABSTRACT A mechanism in a zigzag sewingmachine having a basting stitch device which operates by unlatching aneedle bar from an endwise reciprocatory drive means during an extremeexcursion of a needle bar gate carrying the needle bar. A latch releasemember, positioned adjacent the needle bar gate, may be manuallyelevated to a position where it will strike a lever mounted on the latchmechanism which will trip the latch mechanism at any position of theneedle bar ,gate. A presser bar lifting lever, when elevated to aposition beyond normal lift position, will lift a presser bar guideblock to a position where it will strike a lug extension on the latchrelease member, thereby causing elevation of the'latch release member todisconnect the needle bar from its-endwise reciprocatory drivingmechanism. A tension spring will elevate the needle bar to its uppermost position when the needle bar is thus disconnected from its drivingmechanism.

4 Claims, 7 DrawingFigures PATENTEDJUH 1 1 m SHEEI 10? 2 BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION The invention is a mechanism which operates on a bastingstitch device as originally set out in the US. Pat. No. 3,559,601, Feb.2, 1971, to E. J. Tullman wherein a zigzag sewing machine having a latchmechanism attached to a needle bar and connecting the needle bar to areciprocating drive mechanism may be caused to unlatch the needle barfrom its driving mechanism during an extreme excursion of the zigzagmechanism beyond the normal zigzag sewing range of the sewing machine.The above noted patent discloses a bracket attached to a sewing machineframe which is struck by the latch mechanism mounted on the needle bar,when the needle bar is made to undergo an extreme excursion under theinfluence of a'special basting cam. A latch lever part of the latchmechanism attached -to the needle bar is caused to rotate about itspivot by the impact, thereby disconnecting the needle bar from itsdriving mechanism. A second bracket is utilized to trap the latch lever,and the attached needle bar, in an elevated position, until the needlebar is returned from its extreme excursion by the basting cam, whereupona stitch is made.

In the US. Pat. No. 3,782,31l ofJan. l, 1974 an improvement to the abovenoted US. Pat. No. 3,559,601 is disclosed wherein the bracket to unlatchthe needle bar from its .reciprocatory driving mechanism is carried Whenthe needle bar is unlatched from its driving mechanism on an extremeexcursion of the needle bar, it is brought to and held in an elevatedposition by an extension spring attached thereto,

In the above patent and application are disclosed sewing machineswherein the operation ofthe needle bar may be interrupted under theinfluence of a program means such as a cam; and the needle bar can bekept inan elevated inoperative state while the sewing machine continuesto feed the work material.

There are devices in the sewing machine art wherein the needle bar andneedle may be elevated out of the work material when the presser foot islifted from the work material. Such a device is disclosed in the US.Pat. No. 709,354, Sept. 16, 1902, to ODonnell. It is also known to causea sewing machine to stop in a position where the needle bar may be inthe elevated position or in the lowered position at the discretion ofthe sewer. Both of these systems are characterized by their complexityand relatively high cost, particularly the latter system, which isusually confined to industrial machines where its cost is offset by thesavings in time realized as a consequence of automatic positioning ofthe sewing machine needle obviating the requirement for turning thehandwheel to achieve the selected position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION even during sewing. Through this same inventiona sewing machine operator may selectably elevate the sewing machineneedle out of the work material when raising the presser foot. Theseimprovements may be added to a sewing machine having a basting stitchmechanism attached to a needle bar, as explained above, by the additionof a bare minimum of parts and consequently at minimum additional costor complexity.

As noted above the latch mechanism affixed to the needle bar includes alatch lever having an ear or an extension which is struck by a bracketwhen the needle bar is positioned to an extreme excursion beyond thenormal zigzag range of the sewing machine. The extreme excursion of theneedle b'ar may be occasioned by a special basting stitch cam operatingon a needle bar gate carrying the needle bar. The latch lever pivotsabout a eccentric collar on the latch mechanism when impeded by thebracket from further lateral motion with the needle bar, and disengagesa latch surface on the latch lever from engagement with the endwisereciprocatory drive mechanism of the sewing machine.

When the needle bar is thus disengaged from the driving mechanism it iselevated to its uppermost position by an extension spring connected tothe needle bar.

In the invention, a second lever is mounted on the latch mechanism in aposition such that when it is rotated to coact with the latch lever, itwill also effect disengagement of the needle bar from the drivingmechanism of the sewing machine. A latch release member is slidablysupported adjacent an arm of the second lever. The latch release member,when elevated, is positioned to cooperate with the arm of the secondlever to cause the second lever to rotate and co-act with the latchlever to separate the needle bar from the driving mechanism of thesewing machine. A lug extension on the latch release memberis locatedabove a presser bar guide block so that when the presser bar is elevatedto 'a high lift position, the presser bar guide block strikes the lugextension and also positions the latch release member to cooperate withthe second lever, rotating it and thereby the latch lever to disconnectthe needle bar from its driving mechanism. Inboth situations the needlebar, when disengaged from its driving mechanism is elevated to itsuppermost position by the tension spring. The arm of the second lever,or alternatively the latch release member, may be made of dimensionssufficient to insure cooperation with each other no matter the positionof the needle bar during zigzag sewing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With the above and additional objects andadvantages in view as will hereinafter appear,.this invention comprisesthe devices, combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafterdescribed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferredembodiment in which:

FIG. 1 is a head end elevational view of a sewing machine viewed fromthe exterior ofthe sewing machine and showing the relation of thevarious parts in the head to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the sewing head portion of thesewing machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detached and enlarged front elevation of the latch mechanismattached to the needle bar;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the upper half of the needle bar andgate showing the latch mechanism attached to the needle bar in thedisengaged position with respect to the driving mechanism causing needlebar reciprocation;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the sewing head portion detached fromthe sewing machine and viewed 3 from the interior of the sewing machine,i.e., viewed from a direction opposite to that of FIG. 1 and showing theoperation'of detaching the needle bar from the driving mechanism bymanual means;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the sewing head portion similar to FIG.but showing the operation of detaching the needle bar from the drivingmechanism by super-elevation of the pressure bar lifter; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 77 ofFIG. 5 showing the relationship between the latch release member,presser bar guide block and latch mechanism affixed to the needlebar.

In FIG. 1 is shown a head portion 10 of a sewing machine having asupport bracket 11 affixed thereto by screws 12. The support bracket hasan upper forwardly extending arm 13 and a lower forwardly extending arm14. Journaled in the support bracket 11 within the upper forwardlyextending arm 13 and the lower forwardly extending arm 14 is a gate 15;having an upper rearwardly extending arm 16, and a lower rearwardlyextending arm 17. Inserted in the upper rearwardly extending arm of thegate 15 is an upper bearing having an outer spherical surface and acoaxial internal bearing surface (not shown). Inserted into the lowerrearwardly extending arm 17 of the gate 15 is a lower bearing 21 (SeeFIG. 2) having both an internal bearing surface, and, spaced therefrom,a socket A spherical headed rivet 22 affixed to the lower forwardlyextending arm 14 of the support bracket 11 has its spherical headprotruding into the socket of the lower bearing. A needle bar 23 is'supporte'dfor endwise reciprocation in the internal bearing surface ofthe upper bearing in the upper rearwardly extending arm 16 of the gate15 and in the internal bearing surface of the lower bearing 21 (see FIG.2) in the lower rearwardly extending arm 17 of the gate 15. A socketbearing 24, having an internal clearance hole for the needle bar 23, isslidably mounted in a bore in the upper forwardly extending arm 13 ofthe support bracket 11 and provides the socket for the outer spericalsurface 20 of the upper bearing mounted in the upper rearwardlyextending arm 16 of the gate 1.5. The position of the socket bearing 24may be fixed by clamping screw 25 (FIG. 2) accessible from the front ofthe upper forwardly extending arm 13 of the support bracket 11. Theneedle bar 23 extends through an elongated opening 26 in the lowerforwardly extending arm 14 of the support bracket 11 which providessufficient clearance for the needle bar to undergo lateral zigzagmotion. 2

Attached to the lower end of the needle bar 23 is a needle 27, whichcooperates with a looptaker (not shown) in the bed 28 of the sewingmachine below the throat plate 29. A presser foot 30, affixed to apresser bar 31, is utilized to urge work material into contact with afeeding mechanism (not shown). The presser bar is journaled in a bearing32 which is affixed in a bore in the support bracket 11 by screw 33. Theupper end of the presser bar 31 has afiixed thereto by screw 36 apresser bar guide block 34. The presser bar guide block 34 has a tangportion 35 slidable in a slot between the support bracket 11 and thesewing machine frame to prevent undesireable rotation of the presserfoot 30. The tang portion 35 of the presser bar guide block 34 alsoco-acts with a presser bar lifting lever 37, journaled on the supportbracket 11, to raise the presser foot from contact with the workmaterial in the usual manner. 7 I

Carried by the needle bar 23 is a latch mechanism'42 (See FIGS. 1, 3 and4). The latch mechanism 42 includes a rectangularcollar 43 which isaffixed to the needle bar 23 by a screw 44 having an elongate head 45.Located on the front side of the rectangular collar 43 and supported onan eccentric collar 46, held positioned to the rectangular collar by ascrew 47, is a latch lever '48. The latch lever 48 has a forwardlyextending ear 49 spaced from the eccentric collar '46 and rearwardlyextending car 50 having a latch surface 51 also spaced from theeccentric collar.

Slideable on the needle bar 23 below the latch mechanism 42 is a pivotpost 53. The pivot post 53 is held captive on the needle bar 23 by abifurcated portion 54 of a driving stud 55. The driving stud 55 isdriven in the are located a sufficient distance from the eccentric col-4 -lar 46 to retain the bifurcated portion 54 of the driving stud 55 inintimate contact with rectangular collar 43 when the latch surface 51 isengaged with a lower surface 62 on the bifurcated portion 54 of thedriving stud 55. To achieve the intimate contact desired the eccentriccollar 46 may be rotated and its adjusted position locked by the screw47. To facilitate engagement of the latch surface 51 with the lowersurface 62 of the bifurcated portion 54 of the driving stud 55, thelower surface is slightly tapered -(see FIGS. 3 and 4). A torsion spring61 mounted on the eccentric collar 46 behind the latch lever 48 forcesthe latch lever'to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed inFIG. 3 to continually urge the latch surface 51 into engagement with thelower surface 62 of the bifurcated portion 54 of the driving stud 55. Anextension 52 of the rectangular collar 43 fits between the bifurcations54 to stabilize the needle bar 23 when the latch mechanism 42 isengaged.

Thus when the driving stud 55 is engaged with the needle bar 23 by meansof the latch mechanism 42 affixed to the needle bar, the needle bar 23is caused to undergo endwise reciprocation. When the latch surface 51 isdisengaged from the lower surface 62 of the bifurcated portion 54 of thedriving stud 55, the needle bar 23 and latch mechanism 42 affixedthereto is held in an elevated position as will be explained below andthe pivot post 53 will slide freely on the needle bar 23 without causingendwise reciprocation of the needle bar.

The needle bar gate 15 has attached to its forward surface by screws 66a-bracket 67 the body of which extends behind the needle bar gate toco-act with the forwardly extending ear 49 of the latch lever 48. Thecooperation of this bracket 67 with the forwardly extending ear 49 ofthe latch lever 48 is more fully disclosed in the US. Pat. No. 3,782,311of Jan. 1, 1974. For the purposes of this patent application it issufficient to note that when a cam mechanism (not shown) causes alinkage 69 to move to an extreme rightward position as viewed in FIG. 2a driving post 70, to which the linkage is attached and which is itselfaffixed to the rear most portion of the upper rearwardly extending arm16 of the gate 15, will cause the bracket 67 when properly adjusted tocooperate with the forwardly extending car 49 of the latch lever todisengage the latch lever from r '5 the lower surface 62of thebifurcated drivi'ng stud 55.

As can be seen in FIG. 3 a post 75 protrudes from the rectangular collar43 opposite screw 44 having the elongate head 45. Visible in FIGS. 3, 4,and 6, the post 75 carries a second lever 76 which is held thereon bysnap ring 77. The second lever 76 has an ear 78 arranged tocooperatewith an ear 79 of the latch lever 48. The post 75 serves asa-pivot for the second lever 76. The second lever 76, on that side ofthe post 75 opposite that of the ear 78 of the second lever, is formedwith an extension 80 at a right angle to the second lever 76. Theextension 80 is formed with an abutting surface 81 whose purpose will bedescribed below.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 can be seen a latch release member 84 arranged to slideadjacent the support bracket 11. The latch release member 84 is heldadjacent to the support bracket by pin 85 affixed to su'pport'bracketand protruding through a lower cam slot 86 in the lower portion of'thelatch release member. The upper portion 54 of the portion of the latchrelease member 84 is supported by a shoulder screw'87 protrudingthrough'an upper cam slot 88 in the upper portion of the latch releasemembet. The shoulder screw 87 is threaded into a member 89 which isadjustably affixed to a mounting plate 90 indicated in FIG. 1.

A forward edge 91 of the latch release member 84 cooperates with theabutting surface 81 of the extension 80 of the second lever 76 when thelatch release member is urged upwardly due to the configuration of thecam slots 86 and 88 causing the latch release memmember'89properlyadjusted by connection with the mounting plate 90 the forwardedge 91 of the'latch re lease member 84 will cooperate with the abuttingsurface 81 of the extension 80 of the second lever 76 to cause thislever to rotatecounter-clockwise, as seen in FIGS. 5, and 6, which willcause the ear 78 of thesecond lever to cooperate with the ear 79 of thelatch lever the pleasure of the operator without placing the machineinto the basting stitch mode and during normal sewing. This mechanismmay also be used-when the sewing machine has been stopped with theneedle in t the workmaterial'to elevate the needle bar out of the her toadvance forwardly as it is elevated. The abutting gardless of theposition of the needle bar 23 and the latch mechanism 42 attachedthereto.

Attached to an uppermost comer 93 of the latch release member 84 isoneend of a tension spring 95. The opposite end of the tension spring 95is attached to the extremity of the post 75 protruding from therectangular collar 43. The tension spring 95 serves to maintain thelatch release member 84 in its downward position unless urged upwardly.The tension spring 95'also lifts the needle bar 23 and the latchmechanism43 attached thereto to an elevated position whenever the latchsurface 51 is disengaged from the bifurcated portion 54 of the'drivingstud 55. On the side of the support bracket llopposite that on which thetension spring 95 is-located, a resilient abutment means 97 is securedby a screw 99 to a cut-out section 98 of the support bracket 11. Anabutment end 100 of the abutment means 97 is held by bracket 101,adjustably secured by screw 103 in a second cut-out section 102 of thesupport bracket.

The end 100 of the abutment means 97 impinges on the elongate head 45 ofthe screw 44 afiixing the rectangular collar 43 to the needle bar 23.The abutment means 97 limits the height to which the needle bar 23 andthe attached latch mechanism 42 may be carried in order to facilitaterelatching of the needle bar to the endwise reciprocatory drivingmechanism. The position of the bracket 101 is adjustable with respect tothe support bracket 11 to provide the necessary adjustability for thispurpose.

Thus when the latch release member 84 is elevated it is caused to moveforwardly due tothe configuration of the cam slots 86 and 88. With theposition of the work material. Referring to FIG. '5 the position of thecomponents prior to elevation'of the latch release member 84 are, shownin dotted lines. When'the latch release member is elevated as is shownin the solid lines the latch mechanism is disengaged from the drivingmechanism for the needle bar, carrying the latch mechanism and theneedle-bar to an elevated position.

. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 the latchrelease member 84 has protrudingfrom the rear surface thereof a lug extension 107. The lug extension 107is positioned above the presser bar guide block 34, and cooperates withthe presser'barguide block when it is raised-to a lift position beyondthe normal presser foot raising position to elevate the latch releasemember 84 and cause the latch mechanism to'be disengaged from thedriving mechanism for the needle .bar. Thus if the sewing machine isstopped with the sewing needle 27 in the work material and the operatorwishes to remove the work material from the machine, by raising thepresser bar lifting lever 37 slightly more than the normal lifting position the needlemay be withdrawn from the work material to facilitateremoval thereof. A

Thus bythe addition of a second lever 76, the latch' release member 84,tension spring 95, and abutment means 97 to a sewing machine having alatch. mechanism 48 affixed to the needle bar; capability for manualbasting or removal of the needle from the work material has been addedtothe machineat minimum expense. The operation of this mechanism isindependent ment member when the guide block and presser foot is raisedto a super-elevated position. The needle bar 23 will thereby be elevatedan additional amount by the tension-spring before being restrained bythe abutment member 97. Lowering the presser foot will release theabutment member and allow it to act on the anism to the needle bar '23.

We claim:

1. In a sewing machine having a frame, a needle bar carried for endwisereciprocation in said frame, a driving mechanism for effectingendwisereciprocation of said needle bar, a latch mechanism arranged betweensaid needle bar and said driving mechanism for selectively disconnectingsaid. driving mechanism from said needle bar, the improvement comprisinga latch release member shiftably supported on said sewing machine framefor movement alternatively into and out of a position for releasing saidlatch mechanism, a tension spring arranged to act upwardly on saidneedle bar, means responsive to movement of said latch release memberinto position for releasing said latch mechanism for increasing thetension'in said spring, and abutment means carried on said sewingmachine frame for limiting the uppermost position of said needle bar.

2. In a sewing machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said spring isattached to said needle bar and to said latch release member so thatmovement of said latch release member into a position for releasing saidlatch mechanism increases the tension in said spring thus biasing saidneedle bar upwardly with increased force and also biasing said latchrelease member in a direction out of position for releasing said latchmechanism.

3. in a sewing machine asset forth in claim 2 in which said latchrelease member is arranged in said sewing machine frame closely adjacentto the path of reciprocation of said needle bar, and in which said latchrelease memberincludes a projection protruding exteriorly of saidsewingmachine frame and formed with a finger grip for operator influencein selectively disconnecting said driving mechanism from said needlebar.

4. in a zigzag sewing machine having a frame, a needle bar carried forendwise reciprocation and sideways oscillation in said frame, a drivingmechanism for effecting endwise reciprocation of said needle bar, alatch mechanism arranged between said needle bar and said drivingmechanism for selectively disconnecting said driving mechanism from saidneedle bar, means including a pattern information cam for selectivelydisconnecting said mechanism from said needle bar for the formation ofbasting stitches, a presser foot and a presser foot lifting mechanism;wherein the improvement comprises a latch release member shiftablysupported on said sewing machine frame for movement alternatively intoand out of a position for releasing said latch mechanism, said latchrelease member including a projection protruding exteriorly of saidsewing machine frame and formed with a finger grip for operatorinfluence in selectively disconnecting said driving mechanism from saidneedle bar, said latch release member also including a lug extensionarranged for co-. operation with said presser foot lifting mechanism formovement of said latch release member into a position for releasing saidlatch mechanism upon elevation of said presser foot by said presser footlifting mechanism into a predetermined elevated position of said presser

1. In a sewing machine having a frame, a needle bar carried for endwisereciprocation in said frame, a driving mechanism for effecting endwisereciprocation of said needle bar, a latch mechanism arranged betweensaid needle bar and said driving mechanism for selectively disconnectingsaid driving mechanism from said needle bar, the improvement comprisinga latch release member shiftably supported on said sewing machine framefor movement alternatively into and out of a position for releasing saidlatch mechanism, a tension spring arranged to act upwardly on saidneedle bar, means responsive to movement of said latch release memberinto position for releasing said latch mechanism for increasing thetension in said spring, and abutment means carried on said sewingmachine frame for limiting the uppermost position of said needle bar. 2.In a sewing machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said spring isattached to said needle bar and to said latch release member so thatmovement of said latch release member into a position for releasing saidlatch mechanism increases the tension in said spring thus biasing saidneedle bar upwardly with increased force and also biasing said latchrelease member in a direction out of position for releasing said latchmechanism.
 3. In a sewing machine as set forth in claim 2 in which saidlatch release member is arranged in said sewing machine frame closelyadjacent to the path of reciprocation of said needle bar, and in whichsaid latch release member includes a projection protruding exteriorly ofsaid sewing machine frame and formed with a finger grip for operatorinfluence in selectively disconnecting said driving mechanism from saidneedle bar.
 4. In a zigzag sewing machine having a frame, a needle barcarried for endwise reciprocation and sideways oscillation in saidframe, a driving mechanism for effecting endwise reciprocation of saidneedle bar, a latch mechanism arranged between said needle bar and saiddriving mechanism for selectively disconnecting said driving mechanismfrom said needle bar, means including a pattern information cam forselectively disconnecting said mechanism from said needle bar for theformation of basting stitches, a presser foot and a presser foot liftingmechanism; wherein the improvement comprises a latch release membershiftably supported on said sewing machine frame for movementalternatively into and out of a position for releasing said latchmechanism, said latch release member including a projection protrudingexteriorly of said sewing machine frame and formed with a finger gripfor operator influence in selectively disconnecting said drivingmechanism from said needle bar, said latch release member also includinga lug extension arranged for cooperation with said presser foot liftingmechanism for movement of said latch release member into a position forreleasing said latch mechanism upon elevation of said presser foot bysaid presser foot lifting mechanism into a predetermined elevatedposition of said presser foot.